Organ pipe coral (Tubipora musica)

Tubipora musica is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (2).

Unlike most corals, it is not colourful polyps that make organ pipe corals attractive, but instead, their dark red coloured skeleton (3). The skeleton is composed of thin tubes, or pipes, (hence its common name), which are two millimetres in diameter and cemented together by horizontal plates at intervals of several centimetres (4). Unless the colony has been damaged, a mass of greenish-brown or grey polyps, each with eight tentacles, obscures the skeleton (3) (5). These colonies can form mounds up to 50 centimetres in diameter and may dominate large patches of reef (4). There are at least two species, of which only Tubipora musica is named (3). The structure of the tentacles of different colonies of T. musica varies greatly; some have broad feather-like pinnae (tiny projections) down the sides of the tentacles, whilst others have no pinnae at all (3).

Occurs throughout the west Pacific, to the south of Japan, west to Africa’s east coast, and throughout the Red Sea (5).

Organ pipe corals are restricted to shallow water, and tend to be found in sheltered areas (6). It is a common species on reef slopes, but inconspicuous (5).

The distinctive red pipes contain the coral polyps which, like many other corals, have microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) living within their tissues. Through photosynthesis, these symbiotic algae produce energy-rich molecules that the coral polyps can use as nutrition (3). In return, the coral provides the algae with protection and access to sunlight. In addition, organ pipe corals can capture plankton and organic particles from the water using their feathery tentacles (7).

The permanently coloured skeleton of organ pipe corals makes it an attractive material for ornaments and jewellery (5). It is also crushed and sold in spice shops in countries like Yemen (8), and is a popular species in aquariums as it is easy to maintain and fairly tolerant of aquarium conditions (9). As a result, organ pipe corals are one of the 15 most traded genera of corals (8), and it is under considerable pressure from over-harvesting (9). Whilst trade in this species should be regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) it seems to have suffered from illegal collection, for example, several major collections of organ pipe coral skeletons were caught being smuggled from the Egyptian Red Sea coral reefs (9).

Organ pipe corals also face the many threats that are impacting coral reefs globally. It is estimated that 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs have already been effectively destroyed and show no immediate prospects of recovery, and 24 percent of the world’s reefs are under imminent risk of collapse due to human pressures. These human impacts include poor land management practices that are releasing more sediment, nutrients and pollutants into the oceans and stressing the fragile reef ecosystem. Over fishing has ‘knock-on’ effects that results in the increase of macro-algae that can out-compete and smother corals, and fishing using destructive methods physically devastates the reef. A further potential threat is the increase of coral bleaching events, as a result of global climate change (10).

Organ pipe corals are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that trade in this species should be carefully regulated (2). A permit is required to bring organ-pipe coral or objects made from organ-pipe coral such as jewellery, into the 158 countries that have signed the CITES Convention (2). However, with illegal harvesting of this species occurring in the Red Sea, and possibly in other areas, tightening of this legislation may be required, along with an awareness campaign and ready access by custom officials to experts who can identify the smuggled corals (9). Organ pipe corals will form part of the marine community in many marine protected areas (MPAs), which offer coral reefs a degree of protection, and there are many calls from non-governmental organisations for more, and larger, MPAs to ensure the persistence of these unique and fascinating ecosystems (10).

For further information on organ pipe corals see Veron, J.E.N. (2000) Corals of the World Vol. 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Colony: relating to corals: corals composed of numerous genetically identical individuals (also referred to as zooids or polyps), which are produced by budding and remain physiologically connected.

Photosynthesis: metabolic process characteristic of plants in which carbon dioxide is broken down, using energy from sunlight absorbed by the green pigment chlorophyll. Organic compounds are made and oxygen is given off as a by-product.

Polyps: typically sedentary soft-bodied component of Cnidaria (corals, sea pens etc), which comprise of a trunk that is fixed at the base; the mouth is placed at the opposite end of the trunk, and is surrounded by tentacles.

Symbiotic: describing a close relationship between two organisms. This term usually refers to a relationship that benefits both organisms.

Carpenter, K.E. and Niem, V.H. (1998) FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 1: Seaweed, Corals , Bivalves and Gastropods. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.